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Pill

What am I?

The pill is a type of hormonal contraception. Depending on the type, it is taken either:1

  • daily without a break
  • for cycles of 21 days followed by a 7-day break
  • for 24 days with a 4-day break

Some methods use a placebo tablet for the break1

Effectiveness10

Perfect useTypical use
99%91%
  • Periods
    • Introducing hormones into the body at a steady pace may make your periods more regular and predictable3
    • Preventing the womb lining from thickening may make your period (withdrawal bleed) shorter and lighter than a natural period3
  • Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
    • PMS is caused by hormone level changes throughout your cycle. The pill can help regulate hormones and may reduce symptoms of PMS like mood swings, bloating, tummy pain, hunger, tiredness, breast tenderness and headaches3
  • The pill may prevent acne flare-ups3
  • The pill may reduce unwanted hair growth in places like above the lip, on the chin, chest, abdomen or back4
  • The pill may reduce the risk of ovarian, womb, and bowel cancer5
illustration of a woman making a heart with their hands and smiling
illustration of a woman making a heart with their hands and smiling
  • There is a slight increased risk of developing breast and cervical cancer by using the pill.5 However, the risk goes back to normal 10 years after you stop taking the pill5
  • There is a slight increased risk of blood clots associated with the pill (10 additional cases per 10,000 female users).5 For context, the risk of getting a blood clot during pregnancy or after a long-haul flight is much higher6,7
  • People with a history of mental illness might be at greater risk of negative mood changes associated with the pill.8 On the flip side, the pill can offer mood-stabilising benefits, meaning some people feel better on it than off it8
  • Some people may experience temporary weight gain when they start taking the pill, but it’s often fluid retention9
  • Nausea and headaches are common side effects that often subside over time as the body adjusts to the hormones5,10
  • The pill doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – condoms should be used as well3

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References

  1. NHS. How to take the combined pill. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/combined-pill/how-to-take-it/  Last accessed May 2025

  2. NHS Inform. Combined pill. Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/contraception/combined-pill/ Last accessed May 2025

  3. Up to Date. NHS. Side effects Patient education: Hirsutism. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/ Last accessed May 2025

  4. NHS. Side effects and risks of the combined pill. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/combined-pill/side-effects/ Last accessed May 2025

  5. NHS Buckinghamshire Healthcare. Reducing your risk of blood clots (venous thrombosis) during pregnancy and after birth. Available at: https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/birthchoices/pifs/reducing-your-risk-of-blood-clots-venous-thrombosis-during-pregnancy-and-after-birth Last accessed May 2025

  6. NHS West Suffolk. DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and travelling. Available at: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/PathologyServices/Haematology/6835-1-Deep-vein-thrombosis-and-travelling.pdf Last accessed May 2025

  7. MGH Center for Women’s Health. You Asked: Do Oral Contraceptives Cause Mood Swings or Depression? Available at: https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/you-asked-do-oral-contraceptives-cause-mood-swings-or-depression Last accessed May 2025

  8. Lloyds Pharmacy. Does birth control cause weight gain? Available at: https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/contraception-advice/does-birth-control-cause-weight-gain Last accessed May 2025

  9. Superdrug Online Doctor. Side Effects of the Contraceptive Pill. Available at: https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/contraceptive-pill-side-effects.html Last accessed May 2025

  10. NHS. How well contraception works at preventing pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/choosing-contraception/how-well-it-works-at-preventing-pregnancy Last accessed May 2025

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